Wishing one and all an EGGS-ellent Easter!
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Groundhog Day
At the end of last summer, we discovered we had a new neighbor. A cute little groundhog (also referred to as a woodchuck) could be seen from time to time coming in and out from under our nextdoor neighbor's deck. For those of you who have never seen one, a groundhog is about the size of a rabbit but with a face more like a squirrel and a tail somewhere in between the two. All four of us would get very excited to see our friend make an appearance now and then.
During the fall we noticed the groundhog would also go under the deck of our back door neighbors and under our deck as well. I did a little research and learned that groundhogs like to burrow and make trails underground. I imagined our little furry friend had quite the nice 3 -room apartment underground with long hallways connecting his three lairs, each located under a different neighbor's deck.
In the winter, after a fresh snowfall, we could see trails leading from under our deck to a group of three trees at the back of our yard. Undoubtedly, our friend had gone out for a stroll. When the snow finally melted, we found some discolored lines running through our yard, all leading to our deck. We tested them out and the ground did not sink beneath our feet, so we thanked out furry friend for digging his tunnel deep enough so as not to ruin our lawn and left him alone.
Yet, in late fall, or maybe early winter, or next door neighbors put out a trap for the little critter. It was a safe trap, so it didn't alarm us, but we wondered why our neighbor didn't find the groundhog as cute as we did. She doesn't have a garden, nor any nice landscaping to speak of, so she can't be concerned about the animal destroying her yard. Unless it was chewing wires under her deck, I can't imagine why anyone wouldn't like watching it. I've heard other people complain about chipmunks digging away so much dirt from under their front stoop that it collapsed, but I welcome my little chipmunks (or as Frankie calls them, chipmunkeys). There may be little holes among my carpet roses and day lillies, but I like them!
Last Wednesday, as Frankie and I arrived home after daycare and work, Mario announced that the groundhog had been captured and that he was going back out to check on him. Frankie and I went out to take a look as well. Here is a photo of what we saw:
During the fall we noticed the groundhog would also go under the deck of our back door neighbors and under our deck as well. I did a little research and learned that groundhogs like to burrow and make trails underground. I imagined our little furry friend had quite the nice 3 -room apartment underground with long hallways connecting his three lairs, each located under a different neighbor's deck.
In the winter, after a fresh snowfall, we could see trails leading from under our deck to a group of three trees at the back of our yard. Undoubtedly, our friend had gone out for a stroll. When the snow finally melted, we found some discolored lines running through our yard, all leading to our deck. We tested them out and the ground did not sink beneath our feet, so we thanked out furry friend for digging his tunnel deep enough so as not to ruin our lawn and left him alone.
Yet, in late fall, or maybe early winter, or next door neighbors put out a trap for the little critter. It was a safe trap, so it didn't alarm us, but we wondered why our neighbor didn't find the groundhog as cute as we did. She doesn't have a garden, nor any nice landscaping to speak of, so she can't be concerned about the animal destroying her yard. Unless it was chewing wires under her deck, I can't imagine why anyone wouldn't like watching it. I've heard other people complain about chipmunks digging away so much dirt from under their front stoop that it collapsed, but I welcome my little chipmunks (or as Frankie calls them, chipmunkeys). There may be little holes among my carpet roses and day lillies, but I like them!
Last Wednesday, as Frankie and I arrived home after daycare and work, Mario announced that the groundhog had been captured and that he was going back out to check on him. Frankie and I went out to take a look as well. Here is a photo of what we saw:
Mario stood a careful distance away, observing and taking notes. Don't ask me why. He was suddenly a mini-explorer who had discovered some new species. His notes included, "looks like a beaver, long tail, face looks like a bear, struggling," etc. Mario said that Beni had sent him next door to let the neighbors know they had caught the groundhog and they told him they already knew, so we assumed they called animal control.
Mario admitted to me at bathtime that even though he had been taking copious notes, he felt like crying seeing the poor animal locked up like that. Both boys were worried about Mr. Groundhog's fate, and I assured them that animal control would take him to the woods and set him free to live with the other groundhogs. Later, Mario routinely looked out the family room window to see if the groundhog was still there, and sadly, he was.
The next morning, Mario got up and got dressed and the next thing he did was run downstairs to look out of the window and see if the little critter was still there. He was. I know that he's an animal and used to the elements and it wasn't that cold but I really felt bad! I'm sure he was terrified - as per Mario's notes, he did struggle to get out. I'm sure he was colder than usual since he usually sleeps either under a deck or underground.
I told some friends at work about the situation and they said that animal control would have come before dark if they had been called when Mario went over to tell them. This leads me to believe they did not call. For this reason, I am not too pleased with my neighbors. All day at work I worried about the groundhog and planned on calling animal control myself if he was still there when I got home. I also wanted to report my neighbors to the animal cruelty society. Maybe PETA would come and throw red paint on their house! Luckily, by the time I got home, he was gone, cage and all.
Although we are sad to see our neighbor go and will miss him, we wish him well in his new, more animal-friendly home and we just want him to know that he's free to move back in under our deck any time.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Spirit Needed
Yesterday, we had a mid-week, end-of-the-day pep assembly and I wondered . . . Why do I have have so much more school spirit than 90% of the students at my school? Granted the trek down to the gym can be tedious, not only because my classroom is farther from it than most other rooms in the building, but because you can feel like a cow in a cattle drive, yet I still feel like stomping when I walk into the gym and hear the marching band. For the first time in my 11 years working at East, we finally have an MC that is funny and cool and a student body president who the kids respect and can really work the crowd and still the kids in the stands won't shut up! You know, the he-said-she-said just can't wait another 50 minutes until the assembly is over. Why are the teachers, and only some of them, applauding while the spring sports teams are making their way around the gym floor? The worst of it is when students just get up and start walking out of the gym from the stands while someone is still talking or making announcements from the gym floor. I loved assemblies when I was in high school and I still do. When I first started working at East, they were pretty lame, not to mention dangerous. I once got hit in the head with a flying pencil from the top of the bleachers and it HURT! Fights used to break out mid-rally. Now, they are so much more entertaining and yet, the students still don't care. I think it may all be a part of kids in today's society growing up too fast. It's just not cool to have school spirit.
Maybe that's why on red and black Fridays the teachers are wearing more red and black than the students.
Maybe that's why on red and black Fridays the teachers are wearing more red and black than the students.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
A Song Sans Sense
I am writing this entry at the risk of my friend Jennifer telling me I sound like an old lady - again- but I just can't resist.
I enjoy a wide variety of music, from oldies to pop to rock to some hip-hop and rap. I have been known to bust out some old school rap for my students from time to time, given the right inspiration. In my repetoire: "Nothing but a G Thang" Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg; "Baby Got Back" Sir Mix-A-Lot; "Whoomp, There It Is" Tag Team, some classic Jay-Z. Today, I must say that the genre of music my students listen to has gone over the edge! It's just too darn much!
I have a student in class, D. I have him two periods in a row, for two different classes, journalism and creative writing. So today, D, who knows about my wide variety of musical tastes through my creative writing Song of the Week, asks if I want to listen to this song on his mp3. I say sure, and he holds his headphone up to my ear. Here are the lyrics to the chorus:
She be dancin' with no panties on,
She bow-legged,
She bow-legged.
Me: Who sings this song?
D: Haitian Fresh and Pleasure P (I can only guess what the P stands for)
I am confused. Is this supposed to be an attractive image? 'Cause it's not! Generally, adults who are bow-legged don't fall into the super-model category nor are they very rhythmic or graceful. That being the case, why would anyone want to see her dancing sans underwear?!!
Okay, so "Baby Got Back" is all about Sir Mix-A-Lot's admiration of bodacious booties, but the song has a sense of humor. This "No Panties" song (yes, that is the actual title - I looked it up) is an R & B song. The kind that uses the newly popular synthesized vocals, so synthesized that it is, in fact, hard to tell what is being sung. But it is serious! I didn't listen to the whole thing (and maybe I should have first before I began my rant) but it definitely wasn't a black Al Yankovic spoof.
There are a lot of new songs out there that I DO like, so I don't think I'm "old" because I think this song is ridiculous. This song just IS ridiculous!
I enjoy a wide variety of music, from oldies to pop to rock to some hip-hop and rap. I have been known to bust out some old school rap for my students from time to time, given the right inspiration. In my repetoire: "Nothing but a G Thang" Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg; "Baby Got Back" Sir Mix-A-Lot; "Whoomp, There It Is" Tag Team, some classic Jay-Z. Today, I must say that the genre of music my students listen to has gone over the edge! It's just too darn much!
I have a student in class, D. I have him two periods in a row, for two different classes, journalism and creative writing. So today, D, who knows about my wide variety of musical tastes through my creative writing Song of the Week, asks if I want to listen to this song on his mp3. I say sure, and he holds his headphone up to my ear. Here are the lyrics to the chorus:
She be dancin' with no panties on,
She bow-legged,
She bow-legged.
Me: Who sings this song?
D: Haitian Fresh and Pleasure P (I can only guess what the P stands for)
I am confused. Is this supposed to be an attractive image? 'Cause it's not! Generally, adults who are bow-legged don't fall into the super-model category nor are they very rhythmic or graceful. That being the case, why would anyone want to see her dancing sans underwear?!!
Okay, so "Baby Got Back" is all about Sir Mix-A-Lot's admiration of bodacious booties, but the song has a sense of humor. This "No Panties" song (yes, that is the actual title - I looked it up) is an R & B song. The kind that uses the newly popular synthesized vocals, so synthesized that it is, in fact, hard to tell what is being sung. But it is serious! I didn't listen to the whole thing (and maybe I should have first before I began my rant) but it definitely wasn't a black Al Yankovic spoof.
There are a lot of new songs out there that I DO like, so I don't think I'm "old" because I think this song is ridiculous. This song just IS ridiculous!
Friday, February 13, 2009
On Your Mark . . Get Set . . . Lactate!
This is a story I couldn't resist. One of my colleagues, C, told me this one in the English office this week. It was too good not to share, and I am posting it with her blessing.
C teaches a Speech class in the evenings for a group of students who are taking it as an independent study since they didn't have room in their schedules. During class C was telling her students about a time in the past when some women from La Leche League came to speak in one of her classes (I think it had something to do with living different lifestyles). She asked the students if they knew what La Leche League was. They had no idea.
C: Okay. Some of you speak Spanish. What does it sound like it might be?
Student 1: Well, leche means milk.
C: Right. So La Leche League is a group of women that breast feed.
Student 2: So, you mean, like, it's a competition?
Speech text: $50. . . Extra pay for teaching a class at night, $0. . . Hysterical student comments- PRICELESS!
C teaches a Speech class in the evenings for a group of students who are taking it as an independent study since they didn't have room in their schedules. During class C was telling her students about a time in the past when some women from La Leche League came to speak in one of her classes (I think it had something to do with living different lifestyles). She asked the students if they knew what La Leche League was. They had no idea.
C: Okay. Some of you speak Spanish. What does it sound like it might be?
Student 1: Well, leche means milk.
C: Right. So La Leche League is a group of women that breast feed.
Student 2: So, you mean, like, it's a competition?
Speech text: $50. . . Extra pay for teaching a class at night, $0. . . Hysterical student comments- PRICELESS!
Johann Sebastian Batch
Here's another story from my 10th hour Writer's Workshop class. It shows how out of touch our young people are today when it comes to cultural trivia.
So we're reading a poem, "Theme for English B" by Langston Hughes. The students read it once on their own. Then I ask them if there are any words they didn't know and we clarify. In terms of the language, this is pretty straightforward poem but I ask all the same.
Me: Are there any words you're not familiar with?
T: Yeah, what's batch?
Me: Batch?
T: Yeah.
Me: (Thinking "I don't remember reading that word in this poem and shouldn't a senior know
what batch means?") Where is that word? What line?
T: (He reads the line) Bessie, bop, Batch (In the poem, Hughes was referring to the types of records he likes to
receive as Christmas gifts).
Me: Oh, that's Bach. It's pronounced Baa -k. He's a composer. You've all
heard of Bach haven't you? (Blank stares) You know, like Mozart or Beethoven?
Class: Oh.
I left it at that. Hopefully they know what a composer is, or they'll think Bach was St. Bernard like the one in the Beethoven movie.
So we're reading a poem, "Theme for English B" by Langston Hughes. The students read it once on their own. Then I ask them if there are any words they didn't know and we clarify. In terms of the language, this is pretty straightforward poem but I ask all the same.
Me: Are there any words you're not familiar with?
T: Yeah, what's batch?
Me: Batch?
T: Yeah.
Me: (Thinking "I don't remember reading that word in this poem and shouldn't a senior know
what batch means?") Where is that word? What line?
T: (He reads the line) Bessie, bop, Batch (In the poem, Hughes was referring to the types of records he likes to
receive as Christmas gifts).
Me: Oh, that's Bach. It's pronounced Baa -k. He's a composer. You've all
heard of Bach haven't you? (Blank stares) You know, like Mozart or Beethoven?
Class: Oh.
I left it at that. Hopefully they know what a composer is, or they'll think Bach was St. Bernard like the one in the Beethoven movie.
A Lusty Lesson
This term I am teaching one section of Writer's Workshop at the end of the day. It's really a lot of fun and despite the one kid who sleeps every day, I have some really great kids in there. We listen to a "Song of the Week" every Friday and I am trying to make sure each song is a representation of a literary element, so we learn through entertainment (and writing). So far we heard "Hungry like the Wolf" (simile), "Hotel California" (imagery) and today, we heard two songs for irony, "Ironic" by Alanis Morrisette, which I think does not really explain irony at all, ironically, and "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)" to show what irony really means.
Right now we are working on a poetry unit. The kids wrote "Personal Poetry", to start with, poems that require students to write about themselves within a given format. Those were all excellent. Next, we started reading some classic British and American poetry, beginning with "To his Coy Mistress." For those who haven't read this poem, it is about a young man, frustrated with his girlfriend not putting out, so he explains that "if we had both world enough and time" he could wait forever. Then he goes on to say that death is approaching and there's no lovin' when you're dead. The last stanza is all about the advantages of gettin' busy while you're still young.
Of course, this was written in the 1600's so the language is quite verbose. I have the students read it once on their own, then ask me about any words they didn't know. Then we it again together. After the second reading, they still didn't get it. Once I explained it a little, they really got into it. As I read line by line, I'd ask them, "How would you say this now?" Their suggestions were hysterical and one student said, "We should re-write the whole thing." I thought that was an excellent idea, so we did. It was hysterical. Here are some examples of some choice lines:
Original: Thou by the Indian Ganges' sideShouldst rubies find: I by the tideOf Humber would complain.
Ours: You could shop at the mall all day; and I would carry all your bags and complain.
Original: "Two hundred [years] to adore each breast"
Ours: "All the Simpsons re-runs to admire your chi-chis."
Original: For lady you deserve this state, Nor would I love at lower rate
Ours: Girl, you're worth putting on layaway.
Original: Now let us sport us while we may, And now, like amorous birds of prey,
Ours: Let's get busy, like two dogs in heat
Original: Thus, though we cannot make our sun Stand still, yet we will make him run.
Ours: So let's rock it till the wheels fall off.
You get the picture. It was a lot of fun, we had a lot of laughs and proved that lust is an important theme that withstands the test of time.
Right now we are working on a poetry unit. The kids wrote "Personal Poetry", to start with, poems that require students to write about themselves within a given format. Those were all excellent. Next, we started reading some classic British and American poetry, beginning with "To his Coy Mistress." For those who haven't read this poem, it is about a young man, frustrated with his girlfriend not putting out, so he explains that "if we had both world enough and time" he could wait forever. Then he goes on to say that death is approaching and there's no lovin' when you're dead. The last stanza is all about the advantages of gettin' busy while you're still young.
Of course, this was written in the 1600's so the language is quite verbose. I have the students read it once on their own, then ask me about any words they didn't know. Then we it again together. After the second reading, they still didn't get it. Once I explained it a little, they really got into it. As I read line by line, I'd ask them, "How would you say this now?" Their suggestions were hysterical and one student said, "We should re-write the whole thing." I thought that was an excellent idea, so we did. It was hysterical. Here are some examples of some choice lines:
Original: Thou by the Indian Ganges' sideShouldst rubies find: I by the tideOf Humber would complain.
Ours: You could shop at the mall all day; and I would carry all your bags and complain.
Original: "Two hundred [years] to adore each breast"
Ours: "All the Simpsons re-runs to admire your chi-chis."
Original: For lady you deserve this state, Nor would I love at lower rate
Ours: Girl, you're worth putting on layaway.
Original: Now let us sport us while we may, And now, like amorous birds of prey,
Ours: Let's get busy, like two dogs in heat
Original: Thus, though we cannot make our sun Stand still, yet we will make him run.
Ours: So let's rock it till the wheels fall off.
You get the picture. It was a lot of fun, we had a lot of laughs and proved that lust is an important theme that withstands the test of time.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
The Language of Childhood
Though my boys make me crazy with their wild and obnoxious behavior at times, they can be very sweet and do some cute things, too. One thing I absolutely love is the cute language they use while they are little. Here are some of my favorites.
When Mario was younger, breakfast was pronounced "bref-sticks." This was one of the few words he could not pronounce correctly. He had a pretty large vocabulary at a really young age and his pronunciation was right on. The only other issue he had, and still has, is pronouncing his "th"s as "f"s. Frankie does this, too. As in "I fink it's time for lunch." At 3:30, they'd say, "It's free-firty." Mario's teacher said this is normal, so I'm just waiting for this stage to pass.
Frankie has many cute mispronunciations. Here are some of my favorites:
cupcake = pupcake or puckcake
beat = beep; as in "My heart is beeping really fast."
am not = amn't; he created a brand new contraction all by himself
fast = speed; as in "I ran really speed."
rated = rated of; as in, "Mommy, what is this movie rated of?"
One of my faves, that I always correct, but love to hear him say incorrectly, is when he says, "Gimme _____" and I ask him to ask politely and he says, "Can I may please have________?"
These are just a few of the cute little childhood things I'll miss that I hope to remember when they are grown up so we can have a good laugh together.
When Mario was younger, breakfast was pronounced "bref-sticks." This was one of the few words he could not pronounce correctly. He had a pretty large vocabulary at a really young age and his pronunciation was right on. The only other issue he had, and still has, is pronouncing his "th"s as "f"s. Frankie does this, too. As in "I fink it's time for lunch." At 3:30, they'd say, "It's free-firty." Mario's teacher said this is normal, so I'm just waiting for this stage to pass.
Frankie has many cute mispronunciations. Here are some of my favorites:
cupcake = pupcake or puckcake
beat = beep; as in "My heart is beeping really fast."
am not = amn't; he created a brand new contraction all by himself
fast = speed; as in "I ran really speed."
rated = rated of; as in, "Mommy, what is this movie rated of?"
One of my faves, that I always correct, but love to hear him say incorrectly, is when he says, "Gimme _____" and I ask him to ask politely and he says, "Can I may please have________?"
These are just a few of the cute little childhood things I'll miss that I hope to remember when they are grown up so we can have a good laugh together.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Miscellaneous Cruise pics
When you are on vacation, one day blends into the next and it's difficult to remember when some of these photos were taken. Therefore, they are here, all jumbled together for you to enjoy.
Between dinner and returning to your stateroom your room service crew would leave a different animal towel each night. Here is a towel monkey wearing Anna's sunglasses.
And below is the towel elephant.
Many people have asked me, "How small was your room?" Well, I didn't take any pictures of my room, which was bigger than this one and had a window, but here is the room that my niece and nephews shared. The bed on the right is also a twin. 
The ship's performers were phenomenal. Every night they presented a different show with music and dancing. These photos are from the last night's performance, but the ones at the end of the week were even better. One was selected songs from several popular Broadway musicals and the other was devoted to popular music from the 50's through the 90's.
During dinner there were a few nights were our wait staff would serenade us. Our table was directly below the triangular light at the bottom right corner. Frankie loved watching a violinist play on the landing every night and told me he wants to learn to play the violin.
Me and Frankie at the last night's show - the only one he could stay awake for.
The casino was a good place to spend some time and have a drink brought right to you between dinner and a show. To be honest, I didn't think the night life was all that great.
Filippo, Nonno and
It was Christmastime, so in front of the Schooner Lounge where Anna and I often competed in "Name That Tune" type competitions, there was this huge gingerbread house display. It was really a gingerbread village.
Also, in front of the Schooner Lounge, Frankie and Mario took turns behind the wheel.
Some of the most fun I had was competing in some hysterically funny games. This one was called "The Quest". Me, Mike, Anna, Mary, Giovanni and Louis and Kim from Baltimore were a team and we competed against about 15 other teams. Each team was given a card with our team number and Luke, the activities director (an absolutely adorable British lad, seen in the referee uniform) would request and item and each team had to bring it up as quickly as possible. The first team up got 4 points, the 2nd got 3 points, the 3rd got 2 points and all teams thereafter got just one point. Another referee kept score. Luke would ask for things like a woman's purse, empty of all contents. A man with a hairy back. A woman with a moustache. A form of birth control, etc. A woman with two unworn bras and one must be her own. Funny stuff. We were sitting in the front row and Anna and Mike were insane about jumping out of their seats and getting to Luke first. You should have seen Anna slither out of her bra! The last competition required a man (Louis) to go to the front of the stage dressed in women's shoes (mine), lipstick (Anna's), and a purse (Anna's camera case). Since Anna's bra was already off, we strapped that on to Louis, as well. He's the one that Luke is interviewing in the picture. Luke kept the men on stage and then had them do a runway walk and blow a kiss while being videotaped by the ship's videographer for posterity. The end result was hysterical but in the end our team came in 2nd place by only TWO POINTS! We thought we'd had it and were really quite devasted. Oh well.
On an earlier night, either the first or second, Anna, Mary and I and Giovanni and Beni played the Men vs. Women game. It was sort of a Family Fued type game. I volunteered to go up second and rather than ring a bell, I had to bark like a dog while the guy had to make an elephant sound. Our question, "What are the most popular places to make whoopi?" I barked first, so we took the question, but we only got two out of three before getting three strikes and the guys stole it from us. In the end, the guys stole from us every time on the last one and ended up winning the game. But we all know girls can kick the guys butts!
Cousin Filippo gave Frankie a lift back to the ship after returning from a taxi ride from the beach.
Anna and I hanging out after dinner and taking a "Facebook" picture.
Here is a picture of a picture we had taken of the entire family on the "grand" staircase. We didn't like how some of us turned out, so we didn't buy it. Frankie looks like a rag doll.
Here's an informal one of the boys on the same stairs.
The Biondo family looking very bronze.
My in-laws in the "Anniversary Suite" decorated by my sister-in-law Fran who didn't join us.
Frankie and Anna in the ship's theater before one of the shows, taking silly pictures to pass the time.
The photo below is of the main lobby filled with dancing guests for 70's night. The activities crew dressed as go-go girls and The Village People. Our hot friend Luke was the indian, wearing nothing more than a loincloth and headress! Too bad we didn't get a good shot of him!
Between dinner and returning to your stateroom your room service crew would leave a different animal towel each night. Here is a towel monkey wearing Anna's sunglasses.
And below is the towel elephant.
Many people have asked me, "How small was your room?" Well, I didn't take any pictures of my room, which was bigger than this one and had a window, but here is the room that my niece and nephews shared. The bed on the right is also a twin.
Below are some performers from the show on the 6th night. It was a husband and wife team, he was originally from Argentina and she was a New York dancer. They now do dance routines, drumming and some cool Argentinian gaucho rope tricks.
The ship's performers were phenomenal. Every night they presented a different show with music and dancing. These photos are from the last night's performance, but the ones at the end of the week were even better. One was selected songs from several popular Broadway musicals and the other was devoted to popular music from the 50's through the 90's.
During dinner there were a few nights were our wait staff would serenade us. Our table was directly below the triangular light at the bottom right corner. Frankie loved watching a violinist play on the landing every night and told me he wants to learn to play the violin.
Me and Frankie at the last night's show - the only one he could stay awake for.
My nephew Mike with a handful of pennies - his gambling coin of choice in the ship's casino. His philosophy - the smaller the value, the longer you can play.
On the 2nd to the last night, Mary won the jackpot! Unfortunately, it wasn't the whole $20,000.
On the 2nd to the last night, Mary won the jackpot! Unfortunately, it wasn't the whole $20,000.
The casino was a good place to spend some time and have a drink brought right to you between dinner and a show. To be honest, I didn't think the night life was all that great.
Filippo, Nonno and
Giovanni soak in the only functioning hot tub of the two by the pool.
It was Christmastime, so in front of the Schooner Lounge where Anna and I often competed in "Name That Tune" type competitions, there was this huge gingerbread house display. It was really a gingerbread village.
Also, in front of the Schooner Lounge, Frankie and Mario took turns behind the wheel.
Some of the most fun I had was competing in some hysterically funny games. This one was called "The Quest". Me, Mike, Anna, Mary, Giovanni and Louis and Kim from Baltimore were a team and we competed against about 15 other teams. Each team was given a card with our team number and Luke, the activities director (an absolutely adorable British lad, seen in the referee uniform) would request and item and each team had to bring it up as quickly as possible. The first team up got 4 points, the 2nd got 3 points, the 3rd got 2 points and all teams thereafter got just one point. Another referee kept score. Luke would ask for things like a woman's purse, empty of all contents. A man with a hairy back. A woman with a moustache. A form of birth control, etc. A woman with two unworn bras and one must be her own. Funny stuff. We were sitting in the front row and Anna and Mike were insane about jumping out of their seats and getting to Luke first. You should have seen Anna slither out of her bra! The last competition required a man (Louis) to go to the front of the stage dressed in women's shoes (mine), lipstick (Anna's), and a purse (Anna's camera case). Since Anna's bra was already off, we strapped that on to Louis, as well. He's the one that Luke is interviewing in the picture. Luke kept the men on stage and then had them do a runway walk and blow a kiss while being videotaped by the ship's videographer for posterity. The end result was hysterical but in the end our team came in 2nd place by only TWO POINTS! We thought we'd had it and were really quite devasted. Oh well.
On an earlier night, either the first or second, Anna, Mary and I and Giovanni and Beni played the Men vs. Women game. It was sort of a Family Fued type game. I volunteered to go up second and rather than ring a bell, I had to bark like a dog while the guy had to make an elephant sound. Our question, "What are the most popular places to make whoopi?" I barked first, so we took the question, but we only got two out of three before getting three strikes and the guys stole it from us. In the end, the guys stole from us every time on the last one and ended up winning the game. But we all know girls can kick the guys butts!
Cousin Filippo gave Frankie a lift back to the ship after returning from a taxi ride from the beach.
Anna and I hanging out after dinner and taking a "Facebook" picture.
Here is a picture of a picture we had taken of the entire family on the "grand" staircase. We didn't like how some of us turned out, so we didn't buy it. Frankie looks like a rag doll.
Here's an informal one of the boys on the same stairs.
The Biondo family looking very bronze.
My in-laws in the "Anniversary Suite" decorated by my sister-in-law Fran who didn't join us.
Frankie and Anna in the ship's theater before one of the shows, taking silly pictures to pass the time.
The photo below is of the main lobby filled with dancing guests for 70's night. The activities crew dressed as go-go girls and The Village People. Our hot friend Luke was the indian, wearing nothing more than a loincloth and headress! Too bad we didn't get a good shot of him!
Day 7 - At Sea
On the last day of our cruise, we had breakfast in the restaurant, just so Beni and I could order our favorite - Eggs Benedict. The rest of the daylight hours were spent by either the kiddie pool or central pool, splashing around and catching some rays.
Here Frankie nervously attempts the water slide by himself. Unfortunately, some strange girl with a seemingly receding hairline, caught up to him.
Mario and Frankie chilled in the 2 inches of water in the kiddie pool.
A crew vs. guest volleyball game. The two guys at the back of the pool are my nephews Mike and Filippo.
Giovanni, Mike and Anna in the pool.
Anna and Filippo being silly poolside.
We also had to spend some of the day packing. Your bags have to be packed and outside of your stateroom door by 10 p.m. the night before you disembark.
Day 6 - Merry Caribbean Christmas in Barbados
We woke up Christmas morning, and as usual, headed upstairs to the Windjammer Cafe for the breakfast buffet. After breakfast we made our way to the main lobby of the ship where Santa Claus was said to pay a visit. The captain did a great job of making announcements all morning about "strange sightings" at first, and then "confirmation" that it was Santa and his sleigh coming up on the radar and that finally Santa had been in touch with the bridge and informed Captain Mishelle that he'd be stopping by to deliver some gifts to the good boys and girls on the Serenade of the Seas.
This isn't the best pictures, but I like it because I think I look thinner than I am! After waiting in a crowded lobby for about 1/2 and hour we were finally up next to see Santa!
Here is Mario with Santa. His gift was a hooded Royal Caribbean Adventure Island sweatshirt.
Frankie was a little more nervous to talk to Santa but still excited to get a gift! He got a hooded towel.
After seeing Santa, going back to the stateroom to open and put away the gifts, we headed off the ship to meet the rest of the family and go to the beach.
The two beach buddies - Frankie and Anna.
Beni and I enjoying a dip in the warm, clear waters of Barbados.
Beni, his sister Mary (at least her knees), my brother-in-law Giovanni, my father-in-law and I (I'm on the lounge chair facing the sun, not the camera) near our palm leaf umbrella.
Three generations of Manzella men - Beni, Mario and Nonno Mario.
Beni, his dad and his sister, Mary.
Me, Frankie, Nonno Mario, Anna and Mario.
The beach.
The beach from another angle. The girl in the lounge chair in the foreground ended up fainting from heat exposure. It was a little scary but she was fine.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
St. Lucia - Day 5
On the morning of day 5, Christmas Eve, we got up early to meet our tour guide from Cosul Tours. Beni had arranged a van for our family - all 11 of us- to take a tour of the island. Our guide was Charlemagne (Charlie) and we were his "angels", or so he told us. He was a police officer and was very informative.
A banana plantation. We got to taste the fresh bananas, but I thought there wasn't much difference between them and store bought.
More banana trees
How busy were you on Christmas Eve? Be grateful that at least you didn't have to go down to the river to do your laundry!
A St. Lucian village.A bay.
A dormant volcano on the island. Just add the smell of rotten eggs and you're there.
A pointsettia plant growing on the side of the road. How perfect for our Christmas Eve drive.
Anna and Mario.
A Christmas street festival. Don't ask me what this masked guy is supposed to be - maybe some voodoo hoodoo stuff. Charlie didn't explain that part.
A band playing at the street festival
The Piton Mountains. Charlie called them the "Dolly Parton" of St. Lucia.
Anna and Frankie, all wet, after coming into the van from the rain. It rained on and off the entire day. That's how it goes in the rain forest.
Beni and the boys beside a waterfall.
Anna and Mike in the rain forest near the waterfall.
The beach after the rain. We didn't stay because the sand was wet and the boat to take us to the nicer beach didn't look very sea-worthy. We opted to skip the beach and go back to the ship.
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